The Lathrop Elementary School 8th grade class went out in style on Thursday morning as friends and family members of the promoting students gathered inside of the school's multipurpose room for the annual community breakfast and promotion ceremony – a unique twist on the rite of passage as students move on to high school.

Sierra High Valedictorian Komalpreet Badial and Salutatorian Gillian Montross both expressed their faith and hope for successful futures for their fellow Class of 2017 graduates during Thursday's 21st annual commencement.